Shielding apparatus for vapor-converters.



S. W. FARNSWORTH.

SHIELDING APPARATUS FOR VAPOR CONVERTERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-2.1915- Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 01M J/dne y Wfkf/lJl W/ffi ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY W. FARNSWORTH, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application filed December 2. 1915. Serial No. 64,642.

To all wlunn, it may concmm:

Be it known that I, Snmur W. Farmswon'rn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheuy and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shielding Apparatus for Vapor-Converters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shielding apparatus for vapor converters, and it has for its object to provide means whereby the arc therein may be effectively freed from all but current-carrying particles and whereby short-circuiting, reverse arcing and allied phenomena may be prevented and desirable operation secured.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a vapor converter embodying a preferred form of my invention.

In the operation of vapor converters, current flow occurs from an anode or anodes to a cathode, the latter being preferably formed of vaporizable reconstructing material, such, for example, as mercury.

The are path between said electrodes is produced and maintained in an active condition by a stream of electrons emitted from the cathode, and the attendant cathode blast sweeps globules of the cathode material up and into thearc path. The impact of said globules upon an anode may destroy the negative-electrode reluctance thereof, resulting in a short-circuit condition between the anodes of a multiple anode unit or reverse arcing within-a single-anode unit.

By my invention, I provide means whereby the main power are, in flowing to an anode, is so manipulated as to extract substantially all the globules of cathode material therefrom, and, furthermore. said means provides a long and constricted path between anodes so that, if the negative electrode reluctance of an anode be destroyed, there will belittle or no resultant short-circuit current.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for amore detailed understanding of my invention, I show the container of a vapor converter of the metal-case type at 1. A pair of anodes 2 and 3 project through the cover of the container 1 and are insulated therefrom by suitable means 44. A cathin the bottom of the container 1, and the negative electrode reluctance thereof may be destroyed and a power are maintained within the device, when desired, by a suitable starting and keep-alive electrode 6 that may be energized from a source of direct current (not shown). A shielding member 7 is associated with each anode and is preferably suspended from the corresponding bushing 4. The member 7 comprises a box-like structure 8 immediately surrounding the anode proper and provided with a dependent portion 9 of restricted cross section terminating adjacent the surface of the cathode pool 5, as shown. The upper portion of each of the shields 7 is provided with finely screened lateral openings 10 opposite the active portion of the anode, and each shield is also provided with a lateral window or opening 11 in the inner face thereof near its lower end and in immediate proximity to the cathode pool. 7

Having thus described the structure of a converter embodying my invention, the operation is as follows: An arc is struck within the container by the auxiliary anode 6, and, thereafter, current waves flow alternately from the anodes 2 and 3 to the oathode 5, as is well known and understood in the art. The flow is produced by a stream or spray of electrons issuing from the oathode 5 and impinging alternately upon the several anodes. The major portion of the electron stream passes into the lower portion of the shield structures 7 through the openings 11 and thence upwardly to the anode. At the sudden and abrupt change of direction in the arc path thus produced, the major portion of the globules of cathode material and allied matter are thrown against the wall of the shielding members 7 because of their large mass and relatively weak electrostatic propelling f0rce,whereas the electrons, with their small mass and high electrostatic propelling forces, readily follow sinuosities of the shielding system and reach their destina tion. Any electrons ascending upwardly between the shields 77 may impinge upon the proper anode by passing throu h the screens in the openings 10-10 but g obules of foreign matter are here entrained and caused to return to the cathode pool.

If the negative-electrode reluctance of either anode is broken down, the resultant are passes with difliculty directly across from anode to anode through the openings 1010 because of the screens therein and the requirement that the short-circuit arc descend through one shield 7, traverse the space above the cathode and ascend in the other shield 7 results in such attenuation of the are as to greatly reduce its dangerous characteristics.

\Vhile I have shown my invention in its preferred form, it will be'obvious to those skilled in the art that it is susceptible of various minor changes and modifications Without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In vapor electric apparatus embodying an anode and a vaporizable reconstructing cathode below the level of said anode, the combination with said anode, of an inclosing shielding member associated therewith and terminating adjacent to the Surface of said cathode, said shielding member being closed at the bottom and provided with a lateral opening immediately above the surface of said cathode.

2. In vapor electric apparatus embodying an anode and a vaporizable reconstructing cathode. the combination with said anode, of an inclosing shielding member associated therewith and terminating adjacent the surface of said cathode, said shielding member being provided with a lateral opening immediately above the surface of said cathode essee? and with a screened lateral opening adjacent to the active portion of said anode.

3. In vapor electric apparatus embodying a plurality of anodes and a vaporizable reconstructing cathode located below the level of said anodes, the combination with each of said anodes, of an inclosing shielding inembe' associated therewith and terminating adjacent to the surface of said cathode, each of said shielding members being closed at the bottom and provided with a lateral opening immediately above the surface of said cathode.

-t. In vapor electric apparatus embodying a plurality of anodes and a vaporizable reconstructing cathode, the combination with each of said anodes, of an inclosing shielding member associated therewith and terminating adjacent to the surface of said cathode, each of said shielding members being provided with a lateral opening immediately above the surface of said cathode and with a screened lateral bpening adjacent to the active portion of. the anode.

5. In vapor-electric apparatus, the combination with a vaporizable cathode, of an anode located above the level of the surface of said cathode, and means for causing cathode particles in passing to said anode to first travel substantially parallel to the cathode surface and then to turn sharply upward to said anode.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunt subscribed my name this 29th day of Nov.

SIDNEY W. FARNSWORTH. 

